New Resources

Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. has published the second issue of the Sustainability: The Journal of Record. The April 2008 issue features papers on "Overcoming barriers to implementing sustainability programs in higher education" and "Using Interactive Value Analysis and Risk Analysis Process for Assessing the Economic Value of Sustainability Initiatives;" offers interviews from the Alcoa Director of Sustainability and Hunter Lovins; and gives a book review of "Of Planet and Profits – Selling Good Products

AASHE has posted five podcasts recorded at the 2008 American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment Climate Leadership Summit. The podcasts feature conversations with President Thomashow of Unity College (ME), President Brennemen of Goshen College (IN), President Pfeiffer of Warren Wilson College (NC), President Johnson of the University of Minnesota, Morris, and Chancellor Spangler of Houston Community College (TX). Each Chancellor and Presidents discusses why s/he chose to sign the commitment, what it meant on their respective campuses, and more.

AASHE has posted its first interview as part of its new interview series with sustainability leaders from campuses, businesses, and non-profit organizations that are taking the lead in advancing sustainability in higher education. In the inaugural interview, Susan Kidd, the Director of Sustainability at Agnes Scott College (GA), discusses her institution's current sustainability initiatives, the successes she has had, the challenges she has faced, and more.

The Campus Consortium for Environmental Excellence has published a new higher education report titled "Environmental Roles and Responsibilities in a Climate of Change." The document spotlights the evolving environmental, health, and safety assignment on college and university campuses where homeland security directives, sustainability initiatives, and emerging health and safety issues demand increasing attention. The 16-page booklet illustrates both the challenges and opportunities with narrative, quotes,

The University of California Office of the President recently posted online two-page case studies of the 2007 Best Practices Award recipients that document energy-efficiency and sustainability achievements. The Best Practice Awards program honors University of California and California State University campuses for implementing green building technologies, energy-efficient operations, and sustainable design strategies with outstanding results. Case studies showcasing the achievements and lessons learned for the 2007 award winners are now available online to assist other campuses in achieving their own green goals. Projects include UC Santa Cruz’s student-led effort to offset 100 percent of the campus’s electricity use with renewable energy credits, CSU Northridge’s one-megawatt fuel cell power plant, and more.

AASHE has prepared a new resource that lists campus programs that provide students with fare-free or highly discounted access to public transportation. The resource is available only for AASHE members.

Environmental Health and Engineering recently published "The First (Big) Step to Reducing Your Campus Carbon Footprint," a whitepaper that discusses the importance of energy retrofits, explains the difference between performance improvements and energy reduction, lists the indicators for necessary energy improvements, and more.

The April issue of the Journal of Higher Education Academic Matters features campus sustainability. Articles include "Environmentalism and the responsibility of academia," "Universities in a climate of change," "Environmental sustainability on one university campus," and more.

The Aspen Institute recently surveyed MBA students from 15 business schools about their attitudes towards the relationship between business and society. This is the third time in nine years that the Aspen Institute has completed the survey. This year's survey found that MBA students are becoming more interested in finding work that will contribute to society, are more concerned about creating value for the communities in which they operate, and are thinking more broadly about the primary responsibilities of a company.

The American Council on Education has launched, "Higher Education Goes Green," a website that offers news and videos on green campus initiatives. The site also provides a list of campus sustainability websites.

AASHE has published a list of institutions that have held sustainability faculty development workshops and links to more information about each institution's workshop(s). For some institutions, such faculty development workshops are key strategy for advancing sustainability across the curriculum. This resource is only accessible to AASHE members.

Two new issues of the 'International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education' are now available. Issues 1 and 2 of Volume 9 include papers on: developing ecological footprint scenarios on university campuses; sustainability in higher education in Atlantic Canada; achieving transformative sustainability learning; designing low carbon higher education systems; professional development for education for sustainability; growing a campus native species garden; and more.

Researchers at the College of William and Mary (VA) recently released a study entitled, "Campus Greening Efforts: What Difference Do They Make?" Researchers surveyed over 1,700 American college students on their knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors about climate change. The study compared universities that received either a high grade, A, or a low grade, D or F, on the levels of institutional commitment to environmental sustainability measures as determined by the Sustainable Endowments Institute Report

APPA, the association promoting leadership in educational facilities, recently published two books on environmental sustainability and green practices. "The Green Campus: Meeting the Challenge of Environmental Sustainability" is an anthology that explores the meaning of environmental sustainability, in global and local terms, while profiling exemplary campus environmental programs. The second edition of the "Environmental Compliance Assistance Guide for Colleges and Universities" updates the key environme

Trusteeship Magazine, a publication of the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges, recently published an article entitled, "Sustainability 101," by President David Shi of Furman University (SC). The article describes why higher education institutions should model sustainability and inspire students to embrace a more sustainable lifestyle. It also highlights how Furman is working to achieve this goal.

The Task Force on Environmental Sustainability in Education Abroad of the Association of International Educators has released a report entitled, "Sustainability in International Education: Recommendations for Education Abroad Administrators and Faculty." The report addresses the questions of how education abroad programs can be both high quality and low impact and also contribute to greater environmental awareness.

Humboldt State University's (CA) Campus Center for Appropriate Technology recently partnered with Appropedia, a website for collaborative, free, open-source solutions in sustainability, to host the methods and lessons of the Center's sustainability projects. Appropedia uses the same format as Wikipedia to allow users to share and gain knowledge of appropriate technologies and sustainable living solutions. The site offers projects and information in water conservation, organic gardening, community organizing, and more.

In collaborations with several other higher education associations, the National Association of College and University Business Officers recently launched an online environmental resource center called CampusERC. The site is designed as a multifaceted library of resources for college and university environmental officers to keep up with the latest news and information on environmental issues, study best practices in environmental management, view case studies, and better understand what institutions must do to comply with environmental regulations issued by the Environmental Protection Agenda.

The University of Maryland has released its schedule for developing a Climate Action Plan. The plan includes conducting a greenhouse gas inventory, identifying possible climate mitigation and education strategies, including stakeholder input, and selecting neutrality targets and timelines.

The Aspen Institute has released a new edition of A Closer Look entitled "Applied Sustainability Centers." The research paper takes an in-depth look at 20 sustainability centers on campuses throughout the world.

AASHE and the Duke University (NC) Environmental Alliance have created a how-to guide website for dorm vs. dorm sustainability competitions that provides an instructional video, additional event ideas, and planning documents such as a sample competition calendar, a sample budget, and a sample preparation schedule. The guide is modeled off of the Duke University Eco-Olympics, a dorm vs. dorm sustainability competition that includes a suite of events promoting recycling, energy and water conservation, environmental education and other sustainable practices.

AASHE has prepared a series of new resources on sustainability in economics education. The resources include lists of graduate and undergraduate programs in ecological and environmental economics, as well as a list of academic centers focused on ecological and environmental economics. The resources are available only to AASHE members.

AASHE had prepared a series of new resources on sustainability in legal education. The resources include lists of graduate programs in sustainability and environmental law, as well as a list of academic centers focused on sustainability and environmental law. The resources are available only to AASHE members.

AASHE has posted a podcast on STARS, the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System. The podcast gives an introduction to the rating system and the categories therein. The discussion also covers the process campuses will use to complete an assessment and receive an overall sustainability rating.

The President of Unity College, Mitchell Thomashow, recently started a new blog entitled, "Environmental Studies for the Real World." In the blog, Thomashow's goal is to use his voice as the President of Unity College to comment on how climate change, loss of biodiversity, and sustainability must be at the forefront of higher education.

The Aspen Institute Center for Business Education has released February's "A Closer Look at Business Education" which discusses ways future business leaders are being introduced to Supply Chain Management and how some faculty are recognizing the opportunity to explore important social and environmental questions inherent within the subject.

YES! magazine, an independent, ad-free quarterly journal of solutions for building a just and sustainable world, is offering a free one-year introductory subscription to educators in the U.S. Those who take advantage of the offer by mid-April 2008 will receive the spring issue of YES!, Climate Solutions, as the first of four complementary issues. The YES! Climate Solutions issue highlights possible solutions to climate change and features writers such as Bill McKibben, Peter Barnes, and Joanna Macy. The issue also includes resources on teaching sustainability in the classroom. Faculty can request free copies of the YES! Spring 2008 Climate Solutions issue by contacting Kay Hubbard, YES! Education Manager, at [email protected]

The Earth Policy Institute is offering a free PDF download of "Plan B 3.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization," a new book by Lester Brown. The book, which could be used a textbook, covers topics such as deteriorating oil and food security, emerging water shortages, eradicating poverty and stabilizing population, and raising energy efficiency. The book may be downloaded by chapter or as a whole.

AASHE had prepared a series of new resources on sustainability in engineering education. The resources include lists of undergraduate and graduate programs in sustainability and environmental engineering, as well as a list of academic centers focused on sustainability engineering. The resources are available only to AASHE members.

AASHE has released the 2008 Higher Education Sustainability Officer Position and Salary Survey, which provides information about the roles, salaries, and positions of college and university sustainability officers. The survey expands and updates the information captured in the 2005 version.

The Presidential Perspectives Series recently released its newest chapter, "Campus Energy," written by Douglas E. Zemke, President of Millikin University (IL). In his chapter, Dr. Zemke explains the success and benefits of Millikin’s approach to reducing energy and improving the environment. He also places the University’s actions within the context of its goal for a broader sustainable campus.

The National Association of College Auxiliary Services (NACAS) recently published an article about greening campus mail systems. Entitled "Green Mail," the article lists ways colleges and universities can reduce costs and environmental impact within the campus mail centers. It offers a detailed case study from the mail center at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

OTOnetworks recently released Green Student U, an online student sustainability resource that offers a guide to greener living, provides suggestions on how to live green on campus, and keeps students up to date with world-wide environmental news.

AASHE has produced a new resource focused on sustainability in agricultural education. The resource includes lists of undergraduate and graduate programs in sustainable agriculture, organic agriculture, and agroecology. Additionally, the resource includes a list of academic centers related to sustainable agriculture.

The University of California, Berkley recently published the findings of a climate action course that evaluated options for reducing the University's greenhouse gas emissions. The students found that green building retrofits should be expanded, renewable energy should be used on campus, and that the campus needs to develop a long-term program for mobilizing the resources needed to become a more energy-efficient campus.

The Society for College and University Planning has created a social networking website for people to connect and share knowledge about campus sustainability planning. The site will also serve to manage and promote campus-based Campus Sustainability Day events.

AASHE has compiled a list of undergraduate and graduate programs that focus on urban sustainability. The resource also features a list of academic centers and research initiatives related to urban sustainability. The resource is only available to AASHE members.

Campus Compact has launched a new website to encourage higher education institutions to help educate and empower students to take part in the upcoming elections. The website features information on voter registration, ways to connect service with civic engagement, strategies for encouraging democratic participation, and model campus programs. The site also offers hands-on tools and templates for students, faculty, and community service staff as well as information on other nonpartisan democracy initiatives.

The National Wildlife Federation has released "Higher Education in a Warming World: The Business Case of Climate Leadership on Campus." The new publication highlights the business, educational, and moral arguments for reducing greenhouse gas emissions on campus, with best practices from US colleges and universities. The report includes case examples on implementing climate action solutions in the areas of energy efficiency, renewable energy, cogeneration, transportation, green buildings, renewable energy

AASHE has compiled a list of undergraduate and graduate programs in Sustainable Development. The resource also includes academic research centers on sustainable development and is available only to AASHE members.

The Presidential Perspectives Series recently released its newest chapter, "Achieving Campus Sustainability in the Curriculum and Culture," written by John Brennan, the President of Green Mountain College. The chapter is a case study on how campuses can leverage sustainability for institutional gain while facing a highly competitive higher education marketplace.

Boston College's (MA) Institute for Responsible Investment has released the Handbook on Responsible Investment Across Asset Classes. Each chapter of the Handbook focuses on a single asset class-cash equivalents, public equities, fixed-income, real estate, private equity, hedge funds, and commodities-identifying three key issues and challenges for responsible investment, including real-world examples of responsible investment underway in each area. Each section includes information on how to: design a responsible investment strategy for the asset class; identify opportunities for market-rate responsible investments in the asset class; and incorporate engagement strategies into the asset class investment strategy. The Handbook will be useful to universities who want to align their endowment investments with their institutional missions, in order both to further institutional goals and manage reputational risk.

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About AASHE

The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education is a membership association of colleges & universities, businesses, and nonprofits who are working together to lead the sustainability transformation. Learn more about AASHE's mission.